Former Madison art dealer gets 57 months in prison for fraud

Guilford man maintains pieces were ‘authentic’

David Crespo, then-owner of the Brandon Gallery in Madison, inside the business in November 2010.

David Crespo, then-owner of the Brandon Gallery in Madison, inside the business in November 2010.

Photo: Mara Lavitt — New Haven Register File Photo

Photo: Mara Lavitt — New Haven Register File Photo

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David Crespo, then-owner of the Brandon Gallery in Madison, inside the business in November 2010.

David Crespo, then-owner of the Brandon Gallery in Madison, inside the business in November 2010.

Photo: Mara Lavitt — New Haven Register File Photo

Former Madison art dealer gets 57 months in prison for fraud

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NEW HAVEN >> An art dealer convicted of mail fraud stemming from his sale of fraudulent artwork at his former Madison business was sentenced to 57 months in prison Friday.

David Crespo, 59, of Guilford, who formerly owned Brandon Gallery in Madison, maintained his innocence at his sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Bree Burns.

Crespo told the judge he pleaded guilty to mail fraud not because of guilt, but because he was “downtrodden and emotionally destroyed.”

“I was just wanting to get it over with,” Crespo said. “The FBI has destroyed my business and my reputation. I am unemployable. I haven’t been able to contribute anything as a provider for my family. The art is not fake — it is authentic.”

Crespo became emotional while speaking to the judge, with his voice quivering as he spoke about not being able to provide for his family.

“If I believed it was fake, why would I do that?” Crespo said. “I believe all the pieces are authentic as represented.”

Crespo told Burns she is the only person between him being taken from his family and the truth.

“I sold thousands of legitimate works in my years as an art dealer,” Crespo said.

His wife, Martha Crespo, told the judge her husband would never intentionally take advantage of anyone.

“His guilty plea was because he was downtrodden and beaten,” she said. “We asked him to stand up and fight — we believe he never tried to do anything wrong.”

Attorney Richard Marquette of Hamden, who represents Crespo, said he has a “good heart,” and he called Crespo a faithful and devoted father whose family needs him.

“David is adamant the art was genuine and he did not cheat anyone,” Marquette said. “He feels all the charges should be dismissed and he should be released.”

One of the victims, Mark Lewis, said he purchased what Crespo represented to be an authentic original drawing by Pablo Picasso, but was ultimately determined to be fake.

Lewis traded a painting valued at $30,000 and spent an additional $35,000 to acquire the piece, court documents show.

At Friday’s sentencing, Lewis told the judge he isn’t as trusting as he used to be.

“I am very disappointed in myself for making the purchase,” Lewis said. “Prior to meeting the defendant, I was a very trusting person. I don’t understand how he has no remorse and has made no offer of apology.”

“He looked me in the eye and said he was selling me an original Picasso for $65,000,” Lewis said. “I gave him almost a year’s salary. I am not a rich man. When we bought it, we thought we were buying a piece of history.”

Federal prosecutors have portrayed Crespo as a “serial fraudster” who sold fake artworks as valid works of the likes of Picasso, then forged documents to provide phony authentication of the art.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Kaplan said the government believes Crespo defrauded more than 10 victims.

“The government believes this is a serious offense and involved fraud over a period of time,” Kaplan said. “The sentence needs to deter others from committing art fraud. Mr. Crespo blames the government, witnesses and the victims, but not himself. Mr. Crespo is the only one responsible for sitting where he is today.”

The government has estimated the loss to the victims at between $400,000 and $1 million, court documents show.

“The victims are ordinary people who were truly hurt, and not only financially. They feel their trust has been violated,” Kaplan said.

After listening to Crespo try to convince her of his innocence, Burns said, “May I remind you that you pleaded guilty before me?”

Under the terms of the sentence, Crespo will be on supervised release for three years after he serves his 57 months.

Burns ordered Crespo to pay restitution to the victims, but she didn’t name a specific amount Friday. The government has 90 days to calculate the exact amount of restitution owed. Crespo will have to pay restitution at a rate of no less than $200 a month.

Burns did not impose any fine on Crespo. She ordered him to participate in a mental health evaluation and, if needed, treatment.

Crespo was led away in handcuffs, and he looked at his family in the courtroom and said, “I love you all.”

Crespo was indicted in 2012 on 12 counts, and accused of defrauding his customers by falsely representing that artwork he sold were original pieces by Picasso and original signed lithographs by Marc Chagall.

Crespo pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment, which relates to the fraudulent sale of an imitation Chagall lithograph.

Original lithographs of Chagall’s work can be valuable, according to the government. An original lithograph is an authorized reproduction of a piece of artwork, map, or text that has been created using a distinctive printing process.